Info
This song is said to have been popular among traveling lawyers in the late 19th century in the U.S. Midwest. Former President Lincoln apparently knew it. (source) (source: Sandburg)
Lyrics
(American folk song)
1. The little black bull came down the meadow, Hoosen Johnny, Hoosen Johnny,
The little black bull came down the meadow, Long time ago.
Long time ago, long time ago,
The little black bull came down the meadow, Long time ago.
2. First he pawed and then he bellowed, Hoosen Johnny, Hoosen Johnny,
First he pawed and then he bellowed, Long time ago…
3. He whet his horn on a white oak sapling…
4. He shook his tail, he jarred the river…
5. He pawed the dirt in the heifer’s faces…
See also
- Subject: bulls
- Harmony: chords I V
- Melody: CDFGAC’
- Meter: 2
- Rhythm:
/ 
/ 
- Scale: pentatonic
- Tones: drmsl
- Source: Animal Folk Songs for Children, Ruth Seeger, 1950 / Source: The American Songbag, Carl Sandburg, Harcourt Brace and Company, 1927
- background info
YouTube
or purchase here (printables only)
- Printable & Digital Rhythm Visuals
- PDF of song with chords + Lesson ideas
- MIDI file
- Listen to the song
